Sponge mop



- Filed March 15 1950 Aug. 1, 1961 s VAUGHN 2,994,096

SPONGE MOP 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fllll.

SidneyPVquy/rn 1961 V s. P. VAUGHN 2,994,096

SPONGE MOP Filed March 15, 1.950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2,994,096 L SPONGE MOPSidney P. Vaughn, 4332 Hermosa Way, San Diego, Calif. Filed Mar. 15,1950, Ser. No. 149,677 8 Claims. (Cl. 15-119) This invention relates toimprovements in mops and the like and more particularly to sponge mopswherein a wringer element is hinged to wring a replaceable spongecleaning element.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide aneconomical mop of this class of simplified construction which will besturdy, attractive and efficient in operation and which will provide agreater degree of facility in assembly and in replacing the spongecleaning element in correct relation relative to the wringer element forconvenience and reliability in operation.

Another important object is to eliminate the usual socalled mop headnormally co-extensive with the backing of the sponge element.

Another important object is to provide a mop of the class describedwhich will permit the use of any length of sponge refill and will permitthe employment of any length of wringer element corresponding to thesponge refill length.

Still another object is to permit longitudinal adjustment of the spongemop refill relative the wringer element and mop handle to position therefill as desired relative thereto.

The principal feature of the invention resides in the provision of anovel combination with a presser or wringer element and a spongecleaning element of a socket, which socket includes the means permittinghinging of the wringer element and releaseable securement of the handleand sponge cleaning element or refill in cooperative relation foreflicient mopping and wringing action.

According to one aspect of the invention the socket has formed integraltherewith at the lower end hinge lug means for the hinging of a wringerplate and means affording the connection of the socket directly to thebacking of a sponge refill.

Specifically, in one preferred form the socket is formed at its lowerforward edge into a jaw carrying upturned hinge ears aligned above thejaw for the pivoting of a wringer element and includes the means topermit the swivelling of an opposing jaw member to clamp a sponge refillbetween said jaws in desired relation to the wringer element.

These and other objects and features will be apparent from the followingdescription in reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a mop constructed in accordancewith this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section on line 22 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of a socket generally similar tothe socket of FIGURES 1 and 2 but formed by die casting.

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational View of the socket of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view of the socket of FIGURES 3 and 4showing the portion of the sponge refill gripped by the jaws of thesocket.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of an alternative form of socketshowing the socket clamping a sponge refill.

FIGURE 7 is an end elevational view partly broken away of anotheralternative form of mop showing a socket incorporating means foremploying wing nuts to clamp the socket to the refill backing.

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Patented Aug. 1, 1961 FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the socket of the mopof FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a section taken on 99 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of thewringer element handle of FIGURE 7 showing the manner in which thewringer element is secured thereto.

This invention utilizes the advent of sponge mop refills of the typeemploying rigid backing plates, as for instance shown in my UnitedStates Patents 2,159,601, April 11, 1939 and 2,313,787, March 16, 1943where the sponge is firmly backed throughout its length by providing asocket capable of rigidly supporting the refill in relation to a wringerelement while in contact with the central portion only of the refill,thus eliminating the usual mop head construction wherein the head issubstantially co-extensive with the refill.

The invention thus provides many advantages in manufacture, in theimportant saving of metal, the elimination of separate head and socketformations and the problem of assembling the socket head and wringerhinge in correct position for efficient action of the wringer elementand sponge refill.

It is an important concept of the present invention that in forming thesocket the correct position of the wringer element and the sponge refillare automatically determined without recourse to accurate assemblyoperations required in present sponge mop constructions.

With reference to the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate a mopemploying a socket l to receive a handle 2 and formed with a curvedextension 3 flaring forwardly and downwardly and terminating in adownturned jaw 4 having an inturned lower edge 5.

Formed up from the forward extension 3 at each end thereof are hingeears 6, while at the rear of the socket are formed hinge ears 7 formedas part of the extension 3 at the rear upward edges thereof.

The axes of each of the ears 6 and 7 are parallel, and hinged to ears 7is a depending jaw 8 formed with a recessed face 9. A bolt 10 extendingthrough the extension 3 of the socket and through jaw 8 permits wing nut11 threaded thereon to operate jaw S to clamp the backing 12 of thesponge cleaning refill 13 between jaws 4 and 8.

The refill 13 illustrated is of the type disclosed in my Patent No.2,313,787 but it will be understood that other types of refills may beemployed, and the construction of the refill is independent of theinvention.

It will be seen however that with the jaws 4 and 8 shaped as disclosedan interlock between the jaws and refill backing 12 is provided whichenables a very rigid grip to be maintained on the backing, affordingadequate support for the refill with the backing gripped at the centralportion only.

Hinged to ears 6 is a link 14, while hinged to the upper edge of thelink is a wringer element 15 including a handle 16 and wringing gridformed of the bars 17.

The hinged link 14 is provided with a torsion spring 18 mounted on hingepin 19 fringing the wringer to the link. The ends 26 of this spring bearon the hinge link while an extended intermediate portion 21 bears on theforward edge of the wringer to swing the wringer rearwardly of the hingelink. A stop projection 22 formed on the wringer limits rearward motionof the wringer about pivot pin 19 so that the spring 24) normallymaintains the wringer and link in the position of FIGURE 2.

The wringing action provided by the employment of the hinge link 14,torsion spring 18 and stop 22 corresponds to the wringing action fullydescribed in my Patent No. 2,708,282, granted May 17, 1955, and myPatent No. 2,813,287, granted November 19, 1957. However, I do not wishto limit myself to the particular wringing element and wringing actionemployed in FIGURES 1 and 2, as it will be understood that the conceptsof my invention may be employed with other wringing actions.

The socket 1 is formed to provide side-retaining lugs 23 receiving clip24 engaging a bar of the wringer element 15 to normally maintain thewringer element in the position of FIGURE 2. It will be seen that theouter end of the clip 24 is bent to provide a catch or latch 25.

The extension 3 of the socket is preferably arched transversely, asillustrated in FIGURE 2, to increase the rigidity of the section and thesocket and to resist deformation of the extension 3 under the forcethrough the bolt 16 of clamping the jaws 4 and 8.

It will be seen that the socket in having formed integral therewith thehinge ears 6 forms the means of hingedly supporting the wringer elementand also forms the means of carrying the sponge refill as well as theusual mop handle.

Briefly the operation of the device is as follows: the handle 16 of thewringer or presser element 15 is swung forwardly and downwardly with thespring 18 maintaining the wringer and its hinge link 14 in alignmentuntil the link strikes the jaw portion 4 of the socket at which timecontinued movement of the wringer causes it to swing on pivot or hingepin 19 against the forward and underside of the sponge cleaning element13. Further swinging of the wringer will compress the sponge upwardlyagainst rigid backing 12 to squeeze the water therefrom. The movement ofthe wringer back to the position of FIGURES l and 2., where it issubstantially parallel to the handle 2, is simply reversed with thewringer pivoting on hinge pin 19 until aligned with link 14 at whichtime the wringer and link swing together until the wringer engages withthe catch or latch 24.

FIGURE 3 shows a slightly modified form of socket 26 formed as a diecasting with the hinge lugs 27 integral with the downward and forwardextension portion 28 formed at its lower end into the jaw 29. At therear the socket is formed with a hinge lug 30, FIGURE 4, and pivoted tothe socket from this lug 30" is the jaw 31 having a bifurcated upper end32 receiving the hinge lug. The casting also includes the lugs 33 forretaining clip 34 arranged to provide the function of clip 24 ofretaining the wringer element in position relative the socket.

FIGURE shows a die cast socket of the type of FIGURES 3 and 4 gripping amodified form of sponge cleaning refill 35. In this case the sponge isbacked by a wood backing 36 formed with projecting rib means 37 tointerlock with the jaws 29 and 31. The backing is disclosed as providedwith tongues 38 interlocking in grooves 39 in the sponge of the refill.

Referring to FIGURE 6, the integral jaw 40 and hinge lugs 41 stamped uptherefrom are shown as separate from socket 42 but welded thereto to beintegral therewith, with the socket formed with an enlarged base 43 tocarry the integral jaw and hinge ears. The socket also includes thehinge lug 44 on which is pivoted jaw '45 operated by the bolt 46 andwing nut 47. The refill 48 is shown with a rigid wood backing 49.

FIGURE 7, showing a further alternative form of mop, again has the hingeears for the wringer element and the means for clamping the socket tothe refill integral therewith. In this instance the socket is formed asa split ring 50 terminating in the abutting clamp lugs 51 and theretaining member 52, in the form of the Wing nut, holds handle 52,clamped in the socket.

The bottom edges of the socket portion are turned laterally to providethe Wings 53 and at the forward edge the socket is formed to providehinge lugs 54.

Secured to the ring portion St is a U-clip 55 to receive handle 56 ofwringer element 57 pivoted to link 58 pivoted to the hinge ears or lugs54. The link 58 carries a stop 22' to limit clockwise motion of thewringer, and a torsion spring 18' is utilized to maintain the wringeragainst its step. In this form the socket 50 is clamped 4 to the backing59 of the refill 60 by the wing screws 61 threaded through wings 53 andinto the backing.

As shown in FIGURE 10, handle 56 of the wringer element has forward ribformations 62 provided with slots 63 in which the cross wires 64 of thewringer element are received with the metal of the rib formations 62.crimped to hold the wringer thereto.

It will be understood that the various forms of sockets described willpermit of any length of sponge refill to be clamped thereto whileensuring that the refill is in correct relation relative the wringerelement for correct wringer action.

With a wringer element, as shown for instance in FIGURE 10, the mop canbe assembled minus the wringer element and refill and when the desiredsize of refill is chosen a corresponding size of wringer element can beplaced in position in the slots 63 and secured therein by crimping.

With the clamping actions of the sockets of FIGURES l to 6 a refillcan'be quickly inserted and replaced.

In all of the illustrations it is important to note that the socketforms the means of retaining the mop handle, hingedly supporting thewringer element, and clamping the sponge in correct relation to thehandle and wringer element. The socket also includes the means forretaining the wringer element in its normal inoperative positionadjacent the mop handle.

It will thus be understood that, by the novel construction of a socketretaining handle, wringer element and sponge mop refill, the normal mophead construction has been eliminated to provide an important advance inthe art.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a sponge mop, a socket member comprising a tubular portion toreceive a handle and having an enlarged base extension at one sideflared forwardly and downwardly to form a clamping jaw, hinge ear meansformed up from said base extension remote from said tubular portion, ahinge pin secured in said hinge ear means and spaced from and forming abridge across said base extension, at wringer element pivotallysupported from said socket by said pin, and clamp jaw means pivoted tosaid socket member remote from said hinge and adapted to cooperate withsaid clamping jaw to permit said base to be removably clamped to thebacking of a sponge cleaning element.

2. In a sponge mop, a socket member comprising a tubular portion toreceive a handle and having at the bottom at one side an extensionflared forwardly and downwardly to a broad clamp jaw, spaced hinge meansformed up and integral with said flared bottom extension remote fromsaid tubular portion, said hinge means being adapted to receive a hingepin therein spaced from and forming a bridge across said jaw to hingedlysupport a wringer element from said socket, and clamp means pivoted tosaid socket member remote from said hinge means and co-acting with saidclamp jaw permitting said socket to be releasably clamped to the backingof a sponge cleaning element.

3. In wringer sponge mop, a socket member comprising a tubularhandle-receiving portion having at one side a flared base extensionshaped to form a jaw, hinge ear means formed up from said baseprojecting above said jaw remote from said tubular portion, a hinge pinpivoted in said hinge ear means spaced from and forming a bridge acrosssaid jaw, a wringer element pivotally supported from said hinge pin, asecond jaw adapted to co-act with the aforesaid jaw to clamp the backingof a sponge cleaning element pivoted to said socket member in opposingrelation to the aforesaid jaw, and means carried by said socket foroperating said jaws into clamping relation.

4. In a sponge mop, a sponge cleaning element having a stiff backingadhered thereto, a handle, a pair of opposing jaws attached to one endof said handle wherein one jaw is fixed to the handle and the other jawis pivoted to the fixed jaw to open and close, means to cause thepivoted jaw to open and close with relation to the fixed jaw to clamp orunclamp the stifi backing of the sponge cleaning element, and a wringerelement pivotally mounted on one of said jaws to swing from a positionsubstantially parallel with the said handle to a downward position intocontact with the sponge cleaning element to squeeze the same.

5. A sponge mop comprising a handle, a pair of opposing jaws secured tothe lower end of said handle, one jaw being fixed and the other beingmovable towards and from the fixed jaw, a sponge cleaning element havinga rigid backing secured thereto disposed with said backing bet-ween saidjaws, means for moving said movable jaw to clamp and unclamp said rigidbacking, and a wringer element pivotally supported from one of said jawsto swing from a position disposed above said latter jaw downwardly intoengagement with and to compress said sponge cleaning element.

6. A sponge mop comprising a handle, a fixed jaw secured to the lowerend of said handle, a movable jaw pivoted to said fixed jaw to movetowards and from said fixed jaw, a sponge cleaning element comprising asponge block having a rigid backing secured to the upper face thereof,said sponge block being disposed with said rigid backing projectingbetween said jaws, means for actuating said pivoted jaw to clamp andunclamp said rigid backing, and a presser element pivotally secured toone of said jaws to swing from a position substantially parallel withsaid handle to a downward position into contact with the sponge cleaningelement to squeeze the same.

7. In a sponge mop in combination, a handle, a socket secured to thelower end of said handle and formed to provide a fixed downwardlydirected jaw, a second downwardly directed jaw pivotally secured to saidsocket in opposing relation to said fixed jaw and arranged to move in adirection towards and from said fixed jaw, a sponge cleaning elementprovided with a rigid backing disposed with said rigid backing betweensaid jaws, means for operating said pivotal jaw to clamp and unclampsaid backing, a wringer element, and means pivotally securing saidwringer element to said fixed jaw to swing from a position substantiallyparallel to said handle, downwardly, rearwardly and upwardly to engagesaid sponge and compress same against said backing.

8. In a sponge mop, in combination, a handle, a socket member comprisinga tubular portion secured to the lower end of said handle and having atthe bottom at one side an extension flared forwardly and downwardly ofsaid handle to a broad fixed clamping jaw, a second downwardly directedjaw pivotally secured to said socket at the rear of said handle inopposing relation to said fixed jaw and arranged to move in a directiontowards and from said fixed jaw, a sponge cleaning element provided witha rigid backing disposed with said rigid backing between said jaws,means for operating said pivotal jaw to clamp and unclamp said backing,a wringer element pivotally supported from said forwardly flaredextension forwardly of said handle to swing from a positionsubstantially parallel to said handle, downwardly, rearwardly andupwardly to engage said sponge and compress same against said backing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 66,612Morahan July 9, 1867 692,739 Tranter Feb. 4, 1902 936,460 Lawlor Oct.12, 1909 1,015,625 Lawlor Jan. 23, 1912 1,344,198 Beam June 22, 19201,466,052 Kroll Aug. 28, 1923 1,821,136 Bolakowski Sept. 1, 19312,165,319 Vaughn July 11, 1939 2,222,368 Lux Nov. 19, 1940 2,288,647Reynolds July 7, 1942 2,423,658 Priem July 8, 1947 2,442,467 Lux June 1,1948 2,550,397 Bagley Apr. 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 173,668 SwitzerlandOct. 24, 1933 222,516 Switzerland Oct. 16, 1942

